www.RISAA.org JULY, 2017 • Issue 223 401-826-2121 Representing Over 7,500 Recreational Anglers The second (now annual) • 8 had never fished before 3-Day Youth Fishing Camp • 3 had fished in fresh water, was a huge success. Fifty but never salt children from around the state • 28 had had some basic fishing got to experience three days experience of instruction and plenty of • 9 were slightly advanced hands-on fishing. • 2 were advanced and Thank you to Rhode experienced Island DEM and the City of Warwick for their support and assistance. During the three days they fished from shore, on the Seven Because the knowledge of the children was so varied, they B's V out of Galilee and then on RISAA member boats with were divided into four groups based on age and experience. plenty of instruction the whole time. They remained in those groups during the entire camp. Graduation was held at the end. Of the fifty children: (more at page 28) SALTWATER FISHING LICENSE PLATE BILLS IN LIMBO RI House Bill H.5137 and Senate Bill S.0086, both of which were introduced for RISAA, and would create a special Saltwater Fishing license plate bearing the state fish, a striped bass. Both bills were sent to House and Senate Committees, and in both cases, each Committee voted to "recommend passage." Usually, at this point, the bills would have been heard and likely passed near the end of the legislative session, but both bills are in limbo since the House of Representatives abruptly adjourned before completing all business over a disagreement between House and Senate leadership. We can only hope they get back to work soon. R.I.S.A.A. / July, 2017 My lucky streak has been broken It was bound to happen sooner or later. winds, embedded thunderstorms and After running Take-A-Kid Fishing Day for areas of dense fog. July 10 • 6:00 AM Fly Fishing Committee the past 18 years we have never had to She said I could call her back at 1:00 fishing at Quonny Breachway cancel because of rain. We’ve come close PM after the computer models were a few times.... even had a year where it updated at noon. July 10 • 6:00 PM RI Marine Fisheries rained right up until it was time to send the I called back and she told me the Council Meeting. URI Bay Campus boats out, but even then the rain probability of the potential dangerous July 11 • 6:00 AM Kayak Committee miraculously stopped. Many even joked storm was now raised from 60% to 80% fishing at Quonnie Breachway how somehow I was able to get us “one and that it would happen between 8:00 AM more year with no rain.” to Noon on Saturday, the exact time our July 20 • 5:00 AM Fly Fishing Committee So when rain was predicted for boats would be out fishing. fishing at Ft. Adams, Newport Saturday, June 24, I began to watch the The RISAA Board members were all weather reports each day, hoping the checking their email waiting for my report, July 22 • RISAA PARTY BOAT FLUKE forecast would change. It didn’t. By and when they heard this new 80% FISHING TRIP ....... Sold Out Wednesday I was checking it twice a day, information, they voted to cancel our Kids and on Thursday every few hours. I Fishing Day. The safety of everyone July 22 • 5:00 AM Kayak Committee fishing at Kings Beach, Newport guess it seemed if I checked the weather involved was our #1 concern. forecast enough times it would change. This began a frantic chain of events in July 25 • 6:30 PM Board of Directors But by Friday morning, the forecast notifying our members, contacting the looked like it could be a nasty day on youth groups involved, canceling the Jul 31 • 7:00 PM RISAA Monthly Seminar Saturday. While a little rain wouldn’t stop tents, most of the food, etc. us, the forecast of possible lightening and Then, at 5:30 AM on Saturday morning, Aug 1 • 6:00 AM Fly Fishing Committee high winds would. knowing some people don’t check their fishing at Narragansett Town Beach A few members sent emails asking if email, I went to the marina and parked my we were going to cancel, but I told car at the entrance. The sun was shining, Aug 5 • 6:00 AM Kayak Committee fishing at Third Beach, Middletown everyone we would hold off until Friday the bay was flat calm, and it was a beautiful afternoon before making that decision. morning. Aug 12 • RISAA ADULT/JUNIOR PARTY After working for three months to be As I sat there, all I could think was did BOAT FISHING TRIP ready for Take-A-Kid I didn’t want to see we make a wrong call? it canceled. “Please rain. Please rain!” I thought Aug 15 • 6:00 AM Kayak Committee Not only that, the Porta-potties were over and over. fishing at URI Bay Campus, Narra. already delivered on Friday morning, the And yes, several members who did not tents, grills, etc. were being delivered in get the cancel message showed up, but Aug 16 • 5:00 PM Fly Fishing Committee the afternoon, and much of the water, soda they were all in good spirits and fishing Charlestown Breachway and food was already purchased. There understood. Aug 28 • 7:00 PM RISAA Monthly has never been a rain date, so if we When I left there at 7:30 AM, the sky Seminar canceled Take-A-Kid Fishing Day would was getting darker. And later, around 9:30 be done until 2018. AM, when I was at home in Coventry and Aug 29 • 6:00 PM Fly Fishing Committee At 11:00 AM I made a phone call to the the sky opened up with heavy rain, I was fishing Narragansett Town Beach NOAA weather service in Taunton which relieved and never so happy to see rain! is where all of the weather reports around I guess a record of 18 and 1 isn’t so Sep 25 • 7:00 PM RISAA Monthly here comes from. I was fortunate to bad. Seminar connect to an understanding NOAA Thank you to everyone who signed The Official Newsletter of the meteorologist (Kim), who after explaining up to help, and all who made donations. I Rhode Island the reason I was bothering her, spent some hope you all understand. Saltwater Anglers Association time with me explaining what was about to Many members sent private emails to Published Monthly happen in our area. me saying we made the right call to cancel, Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers She said the remnants of a tropical and that they’ll sign up next year. Association, Inc. storm was going to clash with a cold front That will be our 20th Anniversary Year, P.O. Box 1465 and would definitely bring bad weather so I’m sure it will be warm and sunny with Coventry, RI 02816 with a 60% chance of heavy rain, strong plenty of fish in Greenwich Bay. - 2 - R.I.S.A.A. / July, 2017 The RISAA Legislative Committee’s mission is to provide, in partnership with the Affiliated Clubs, a forum for improving the knowledge and understanding of fishery-related and government issues that affect recreational anglers. An informed membership encourages involvement and advocacy. The Legislative Committee will strive to advocate responsible fishery decision. The Committee is comprised of RISAA Members and delegates from the Affiliated Clubs. The Committee meets two or three times a year, depending on the number of fishery and/or legislative issues that develop. Red snapper agreement has ramifications for RI The Department of Commerce announced last month that The red snapper ruling puts the short term financial gain of an agreement between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric a few first at the expense of the fish and our fishing communities. Administration (NOAA), members of the U.S. House of So the decision to step and decide local issues with no regional Representatives and the five Gulf Coast states to extend the Council input has far reaching ramifications for all coastal states. 2017 recreational red snapper season by 39 weekend days in In a press release on Wednesday, June 14, 2017, the Center the Gulf of Mexico for private recreational anglers. for Sportfishing Policy, an industry group composed of The action was lauded by some in the recreational fishing recreational fishing industry supporters in tourism, boat community and criticized by others. Over the years NOAA manufacturing and fishing gear and tackle retailers said, “As a reduced red snapper fishing days to rebuild the stock and it result of today’s action, red snapper season will reopen for was working. Many scientists, conservationists and fish policy private recreational anglers in the Gulf out to 200 miles every makers feel it premature to liberalize regulations as they believe Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including Monday and Tuesday red snapper overfishing will occur in one year and damage of the July Fourth holiday and the Monday of Labor Day. This rebuilding efforts. Additionally, the action ignored our national 39-day season will begin June 16 and ends September 4. State fishing law, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, by not vetting the seasons will run congruently with the federal season.” proposal/decision through a public input process and the Gulf Meredith More, director of Fish Conservation at the Ocean of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Conservancy said, “Red snapper regulation liberalization will This almost certainly lead to overfishing of red snapper, plain and decision to simple.